Which of the following is a major advantage of using columnar storage in SAP HANA?

The major advantage of using columnar storage in SAP HANA lies in the improved compression for large datasets. Columnar storage organizes data by columns rather than by rows, which allows for more efficient compression techniques. Since data in each column often consists of similar types, it can be compressed more effectively. This results in reduced storage requirements and improved performance, especially when dealing with analytical queries and large volumes of data.

The efficiency of the compression means that it not only saves space but also enhances read performance, as less data needs to be scanned and transferred from disk to memory in analytical operations. The performance improvements stemming from this compression factor are significant in the context of data analytics, where large datasets are commonplace.

Options focused on write performance, complex joins, or redundancy relate to other aspects of database design but do not capture the primary benefit of columnar storage in the context of SAP HANA. Therefore, improved compression stands out as a critical advantage in leveraging the capabilities of the system effectively.